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UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 8-K

CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 OR 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported) February 29, 2008

WESTAR ENERGY, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code (785) 575-6300

Not Applicable

(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:

WESTAR ENERGY, INC.

Section 2. Financial Information

On February 29, 2008, we issued a press release announcing our earnings for the period ended December 31, 2007. A copy of our February 29, 2008 press release is attached hereto as exhibit 99.1 and is incorporated herein by this reference. The press release contains statements intended as “forward-looking statements” which are subject to the cautionary statements about forward-looking statements set forth herein and therein.

The information above is being furnished, not filed, pursuant to Item 2.02 of Form 8-K. Accordingly, the information in Item 2.02 of this Current Report, including the press release attached hereto as exhibit 99.1, will not be incorporated by reference into any registration statement filed by the Company under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, unless specifically identified therein as being incorporated by reference.

Section 9. Financial Statements and Exhibits

Exhibit 99.1    Press Release dated February 29, 2008

Forward-looking statements: Certain matters discussed in this Current Report on Form 8-K are “forward-looking statements.” The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 has established that these statements qualify for safe harbors from liability. Forward-looking statements may include words like we “believe,” “anticipate,” “expect,” “likely,” “estimate,” “intend” or words of similar meaning. Forward-looking statements describe our future plans, objectives, expectations or goals and are based on assumptions by the management of the Company as of the date of this document. If management’s assumptions prove incorrect or should unanticipated circumstances arise, the Company’s actual results could differ materially from those anticipated. These differences could be caused by a number of factors or a combination of factors including, but not limited to, those factors described under the heading “Risk Factors” contained in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the period ended December 31, 2007 as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Readers are urged to consider such factors when evaluating any forward-looking statement, and the Company cautions you not to put undue reliance on any forward-looking statements. Any forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date such statement was made, and we do not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statement to reflect events or circumstances after the date on which such statement was made except as required by applicable laws or regulations.

The information contained in this report is summary information that is intended to be considered in the context of our SEC filings and other public announcements that we may make, by press release or otherwise, from time to time. We disclaim any current intention to revise or

update the information contained in this report, although we may do so from time to time as our management believes is warranted. Any such updating may be made through the filing of other reports or documents with the SEC, through press releases or through other public disclosure.

SIGNATURE

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.

EXHIBIT INDEX

Exhibit 99.1

		Media contact:
		Karla Olsen,
		director, corporate
		communications
		Phone: 888.613.0003
		FAX: 316.261.6769
		karla.olsen@WestarEnergy.com
		Investor contact:
		Bruce Burns,
		director, investor relations
		Phone: 785.575.8227
		bruce.burns@WestarEnergy.com

WESTAR ENERGY ANNOUNCES 2007 RESULTS

TOPEKA, Kan., Feb. 29, 2008 — Westar Energy, Inc. (NYSE:WR) today announced 2007 earnings of $167.4 million, or $1.85 per share, compared with 2006 earnings of $164.3 million, or $1.88 per share. The lower earnings per share reflects additional shares issued in 2007 to fund the company’s growth plan. The company reported fourth quarter 2007 earnings of $13.5 million, or $0.15 per share, compared with fourth quarter 2006 earnings of $12.8 million, or $0.15 per share.

2007 Full Year Results Compared with 2006 Full Year Results

Westar Energy reported 2007 revenues of $1.7 billion, $121.1 million higher than 2006 revenues of $1.6 billion. Retail sales increased by $26.7 million, or 2.3 percent, due primarily to higher residential and commercial sales and a decrease in refund obligations. Wholesale sales increased $79.2 million, or 26.3 percent, due primarily to increased sales volumes because the company’s generating facilities were operated in 2007 without restriction for coal conservation measures as was the case in 2006, and the company’s nuclear plant operated without any planned or unplanned outages in 2007. Additionally, the company had higher sales from a long-term wholesale sale agreement entered into in April 2007.

Westar Energy announces 2007 results, page 2 of 5

Operating expenses increased $90.5 million, due primarily to increased fuel and purchased power expense and higher depreciation expense. Fuel and purchased power expense increased $60.5 million due principally to increased sales and higher unit cost of fuel and purchased power. The higher fuel and purchased power expense is largely recovered through a fuel adjustment clause, which allows the timely recovery of these costs. Depreciation expense increased $12.7 million due primarily to higher plant balances.

Other expense for 2007 was $1.3 million compared with other income of $13.5 million in 2006, a decrease of $14.8 million, due primarily to lower income from corporate-owned life insurance.

2007 Fourth Quarter Results Compared with 2006 Fourth Quarter Results

Westar Energy reported revenues of $392.9 million for the fourth quarter 2007, an increase of $49.7 million compared with $343.2 million in 2006. Retail revenues increased by $25.7 million, or 11.5 percent, principally due to smaller refund obligations in 2007 compared with the same period last year. Wholesale sales increased $19.0 million, or 22.9 percent, due primarily to increased sales volumes due to higher availability of the company’s baseload generating facilities and a long-term wholesale sale agreement entered into in April 2007.

Operating expenses increased $50.1 million, reflecting primarily higher fuel and purchased power expense and higher depreciation expense. Fuel and purchased power expense increased $33.8 million, due primarily to increased sales and higher per unit cost of fuel. The $19.2 million increase in depreciation expense is due primarily to an $18.8 million reduction in the fourth quarter 2006 depreciation expense that resulted from the KCC reversing a portion its December 2005 rate order with regard to allowable depreciation expense.

Westar Energy announces 2007 results, page 3 of 5

Interest expense decreased by $5.3 million due primarily to the reversal of $9.3 million of tax-related interest expense due to a federal income tax settlement. The decrease was partially offset by higher interest expense associated with a capital lease related to the eight percent leasehold interest in Jeffrey Energy Center that the company acquired in April 2007 and increased long-term debt outstanding. Effective January 1, 2007, the company began recording interest related to income tax uncertainties as interest expense instead of as income tax expense.

2008 Earnings Guidance

The company announced earnings guidance for 2008 of $1.50 to $1.65 per share, excluding the possible effects of settlements of open prior period income tax audits. The company posted to its Web site a summary of the principal earnings drivers and adjustments used in arriving at 2008 earnings guidance. The summary can be located under Investor Presentations within the Investors section of the company Web site at www.WestarEnergy.com.

Conference Call and Additional Company Information

Westar Energy management will host a conference call with the investment community Friday, Feb. 29 at 10 a.m. ET (9 a. m. CT). Investors, media and the public may listen to the conference call by dialing 888-680-0860, participant code 11864786. A Web cast of the live conference call will be available at www.WestarEnergy.com.

Members of media are invited to listen to the conference call and then contact Karla Olsen with any follow-up questions.

This earnings announcement, a package of detailed year-end 2007 financial information, 2008 earnings guidance, the company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended Dec. 31, 2007 and other filings the company has made with the Securities and Exchange Commission are available on the company’s Web site at www.WestarEnergy.com.

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Westar Energy announces 2007 results, page 4 of 5

Westar Energy, Inc. (NYSE: WR) is the largest electric utility in Kansas, providing electric service to about 674,000 customers in the state. Westar Energy has about 6,100 megawatts of electric generation capacity and operates and coordinates approximately 33,000 miles of electric distribution and transmission lines.

For more information about Westar Energy, visit us on the Internet at http://www.WestarEnergy.com.

Forward-looking statements: Certain matters discussed in this news release are “forward-looking statements.” The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 has established that these statements qualify for safe harbors from liability. Forward-looking statements may include words like “believe,” “anticipate,” “target,” “expect,” “pro forma,” “estimate,” “intend,” “guidance” or words of similar meaning. Forward-looking statements describe future plans, objectives, expectations or goals. Although Westar Energy believes that its expectations are based on reasonable assumptions, all forward-looking statements involve risk and uncertainty. Therefore, actual results could vary materially from what we expect. Please review our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended Dec. 31, 2007 for important risk factors that could cause results to differ materially from those in any such forward-looking statements. Any forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date such statement was made, and the company does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statement to reflect events or circumstances after the date on which such statement was made except as required by applicable laws or regulations.

Westar Energy announces 2007 results, page 5 of 5

Attachment 1

WESTAR ENERGY, INC.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME

(UNAUDITED)

(IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT PER SHARE AMOUNTS)